Active Galápagos Islands Adventure: Isla Santa Cruz & Isla Isabela – 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive on Isla Santa Cruz, Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station

Welcome to the Galápagos Islands! Meet your guide at the Isla Baltra airport and then register your entry to the national park before taking a bus to the Itabaca Canal docks. Here, you'll board a ferry to Isla Santa Cruz, home to a dormant volcano that last erupted over 1.5 million years ago. Here a driver will be waiting to take you into the island's lush highlands, where you'll see dozens of giant tortoises in their natural habitat and explore some impressive lava tunnels.

Stop for a local lunch, then continue to the town of Puerto Ayora on the southern coast, where you'll get checked into your hotel. The archipelago's largest town is also home to the Charles Darwin Foundation, which you'll spend some time exploring this afternoon. You'll get the chance to observe giant tortoises and iguanas and watch scientists working on environmental projects that aim to repopulate the island with native species.

Day 2: Explore an Uninhabited Island

Today you'll visit one of the uninhabited islands in the Galápagos archipelago, which comprises 13 large islands and over 40 small islands and islets. Depending on the day, you'll sail out to either Santa Fé, Plaza Sur, Bartolomé, or Seymour Norte. Discover their wild volcanic landscapes and encounter species found nowhere else.

Look out for iguanas on the crescent-shaped Plaza Sur, wander through a vast cactus forest and spot sea lions on Santa Fé, and search for lava lizards on Seymour Norte. If you dock on Bartolomé, hike among red craters shadowed by two volcanic cinder cones, glimpsing Galápagos penguins at Pinnacle Rock. You'll have a chance to relax on the beach and have a lunch break on the boat, sailing back to Puerto Ayora at the end of the day.

Day 3: Speedboat to Isla Isabela, Snorkeling Los Túneles

Start the day with a speedboat ride to Isla Isabela, the largest island in the Galápagos archipelago. The seahorse-shaped island is famed for having the world's second-largest active crater: the Sierra Negra volcano. Isabela is also home to everything from flightless cormorants to penguins and iguanas. Your destination is the island's small town of Puerto Villamil, where you can get settled at your hotel.

Later on, you'll visit Isabela's Los Túneles, a geological wonder of rock arches and tunnels that wind above and below the ocean. These result in one of the island's most unique snorkeling spots. Get your gear ready and dive in to search for reef fish, rays, turtles, seahorses, and even whitetip reef sharks. You might also see penguins or blue-footed boobies on the surrounding rocks. After your snorkeling adventure, take the boat back to Puerto Villamil.

Day 4: Sierra Negra Volcano Hike

Today, take a scenic hike along the crater of the Sierra Negra volcano. It's one of the largest shield volcanoes in the world, with a distinctive low profile and a nearly 6-mile (10 km) diameter crater. The 10-mile (16 km) hike to the volcanic peak takes you through lava landscapes surrounded by wildlife.

As you approach the crater, soak up panoramic views of neighboring Isla Fernandina and Isabela's volcanoes. The trek continues up to Chico volcano, a secondary crater where you'll enjoy a packed lunch accompanied by show-stopping views of the island's volcanic peaks. Return to Puerto Villamil afterward for a well-earned relaxing evening.

Day 5: Explore Isla Isabela by Bike

Uncover more of Isabela's wonders today by bike. Head off with a guide along a quiet road that leads around one side of the island. As you pedal, stop off at sweeping viewpoints and picture-perfect beaches, including Playa del Amor (Love Beach), where a large population of marine iguanas lives.

Eventually, you'll reach the famous Muro de las Lagrimas (Wall of Tears), a historic landmark on Isla Isabela. This wall was built by prisoners of the penal colony on the island, and it is said that hundreds of people lost their lives during its construction, hence the name. Make a final stop at Flamingo Lagoon en route to your hotel to catch sight of some of its colorful inhabitants.

Day 6: Kayaking & Snorkeling at Las Tintoreras, Speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz

Today you'll discover the Tintoreras Islet, which is named for its harmless tintoreras or whitetip sharks, which you may spot during your visit. The islets are also home to sea lions, turtles, starfish, and rays. The creatures are most visible at low tide in the channels formed by ancient lava flows.

Explore by kayak, looking out for Humboldt penguins and other marine life. You'll also have the opportunity to snorkel in the clear waters filled with colorful fish. After the tour, return to Puerto Villamil in time to catch the public speedboat back to Puerto Ayora on Isla Santa Cruz.

Day 7: Visit Tortuga Bay & Depart

Enjoy a final morning in the Galápagos with a hike through an opuntia cactus forest to Tortuga Bay, loved for its soft coral sand and paradisiacal scenery. Settle on the beach for a rest and a swim or snorkel; pelicans and finches are local to the area, and you may see flamingoes near the salt lagoon. Afterward, you'll make the trip back to the airport on Isla Baltra in time for your onward flight. Safe travels!

More Great Galápagos Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to the Galápagos Islands? Check out these other Galápagos itineraries, explore different ways to spend seven days in the Galápagos, or discover the best time to visit the Galápagos.